2015 Assen MotoGP Preview

Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo pictured at last year’s Assen MotoGP

With the Assen MotoGP race just days away, the championship tussle is starting to heat up intensely. As we move into round 8 of the championship here are some quick facts about the TT Circuit Assen. It is a 4.5 km long circuit with the longest straight being 487m. There are 18 corners- 6 left-hand corners and 12 right-hand corners.

It is the oldest venue on the calendar, dating from its inception in 1949; modified in 1999, it has now secured a place on the MotoGP calendar for a long time. The final right-left-right sequence of corners is a favoured overtaking spot, and many a race has been decided at that corner. According to the weather report, we could be treated to a wet race and that levels the playing field and cranks the difficulty up a notch.

Yamaha, Honda and Ducati are in the form of their lives, but as proven in the last race in Barcelona, Suzuki are the dark horses.

In the Moto2 category, Kalex is dominating the proceedings but Sam Lowes on the Speed Up machine could spoil the party. Meanwhile in the Moto3 there is absolutely nothing to choose between bikes due to the extreme unpredictability of this class, but the main manufacturing contenders are KTM and Honda. However, Mahindra could scrap it out in the mix and spring a surprise, considering the fact that its cornering speed is excellent – especially on a track that consists mostly of corners.

Moto3:

(L-R) Enea Bastianini of Italy and Junior Team Gresini, Danny Kent of Britain and Efren Vazquez of Spain and Leopard Racing

Danny Kent, Efren Vazquez and the Leopard Racing team will be itching to continue their fine form, which was present in Barcelona, but riders like Miguel Oliveira, Niccolo Antonelli, Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini and others could rain on their parade. With the threat of impending showers, this could turn into a lottery. Even if there are dry conditions, there is nothing separating the grid from a good old-fashioned dogfight. Watching the Moto3 race from a fan’s perspective, everybody knows that the race isn’t over until the chequered flag drops.

Moto2:

Hafizh Syahrin of Malaysia and Petronas Raceline Malaysia looks on in box during the MotoGp of Germany

After what could prove to be a tasty entrée of a Moto3 race, fans will be relishing the starters, in the form of the Moto2 race. Unlike the first six races, which were a turn-off for fans, the 7th round in Barcelona was a welcome change for everyone. Battles up and down the order kept everyone riveted and on the edge of his or her seat. While everybody trained their eyes on Rins versus Rabat, Johann Zarco quietly worked his way into 3rd and watched the 2 Spaniards trade blows and wear our their tires in the process. Finally with 2 laps left the Frenchman made his move, first on an unsuspecting Rins who may have forgotten to check his mirrors and later Rabat succumbed not once but twice on the same lap also losing out to Rins, leading to Zarco’s trademark backflip. Now however with the impending rain looming, it could become dangerous. But there are a few riders who excel in these kinds of treacherous conditions, like Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin and Australian rider Anthony West, so they could possibly spring a few surprises.

MotoGP:

Teammates Valentino Rossi (L) and Jorge Lorenzo of Movistar Yamaha MotoGP celebrate their podiums at theGrand Prix at Catalunya

Now comes the main course, the moment everyone has paid good money to watch. The promise of an exhilarating battle in the junior classes has finally led to this. Yamaha go into this weekend in a commanding position in terms of the championship and race pace due to on-form riders Rossi and Lorenzo who are vying for the 2015 championship with Rossi leading by a single point. But Yamaha needs to focus on keeping arch-rivals Honda at bay because if Rossi and Lorenzo try to psych out each other too much, Marquez and Pedrosa could take advantage of the civil war. But Honda needs to sort out their issues if they want to be considered serious title contenders. Ducati this season seem to have rediscovered their 2007 form but this time with Iannone and Dovizioso looking threatening. Suzuki showed the world 2 weeks ago that the 2015 season was not going to be a 3 horse race and will be hoping to capitalize on their sensational debut if only they could find that extra horsepower so as not to be hopelessly and hilariously out dragged by its more experienced fellow manufacturers at the start line. Luckily for them it is a long race and the bike can last the distance. With the weather report in anyone can come out on top and even score a surprise win.

So for now let us sit back and watch the action unfold before our eyes.